Oleksandr Kosenko: "We gathered essential information in matches against Czechia and will analyze it"

09.11.2024 14:00

The head coach of the Ukraine futsal national team, Oleksandr Kosenko, commented on his team's performance in the friendly matches against Czechia.

As part of their preparation for the Futsal EURO 2026 qualifiers, the Ukraine futsal team played two friendly matches against Czechia on November 5th and 6th, securing two victories — 3:2 and 6:2.

After the matches, head coach Oleksandr Kosenko summarized the results for the FAU press service.

— In both games, we conceded goals in the second half. There seems to be a certain pattern...

— These are friendly games. We tried different player combinations and different scenarios, so there is no pattern. That’s what friendlies are for— to test things and try out different approaches. Therefore, I believe everything went well. We gathered the necessary information, and now we’ll analyze it.

— What were the goals for this training camp? Were you able to accomplish everything you planned?

— Friendly matches are held to assess new players, prepare for qualifying matches, and explore different player interactions. Every friendly match is aimed at that. We’re no exception.

— How did the debutants perform? Can you share any plans regarding them for future call-ups?

— I believe the debutants played well. As for future call-ups, we’ll continue thinking and discussing. They still have everything ahead of them, and they will certainly receive a call-up, but I can’t say when. We’ll have qualifying matches, and we will rely on the players we’re confident in. However, we don't rule out the possibility that some young players may be called up.

— It’s been just over a month since the World Cup. Has it had any impact on the players?

— I haven’t noticed anyone becoming complacent. Everything is generally fine. In my opinion, the third-place finish has not affected the players. They are all in good physical condition and form.

— What is the overall physical and psychological condition of the team at the moment? Is the team ready for the first qualifiers?

— The condition is normal, and I believe the players are ready, but the games will show everything. We can feel prepared or not, but everything will be clear on the court.

As a reminder, the Futsal EURO 2026 qualification main round draw took place on May 30. Forty teams were divided into 10 groups of four, competing from December to April for 10 direct spots in the final stage and eight playoff positions.

The European Futsal Championship 2026 will be the second edition after the final stage expanded from 12 to 16 teams, with the tournament now held every four years instead of two.

Futsal EURO 2026 Qualification Format

The qualification process consists of three stages: the preliminary round (mini-tournaments), the main round (home and away group matches), and the playoffs (home and away).

The tournament hosts, Latvia and Lithuania, receive automatic spots for EURO 2026. Some teams begin in the preliminary round, while others enter directly into the main round.

Main Round (December 9, 2024 – April 16, 2025)

A total of 40 teams (the 34 best teams according to the December ranking and the 6 best teams from the preliminary round) will be divided into 10 groups of four teams each. Every team will play against others in their group both at home and away. The 10 group winners will join Latvia and Lithuania in the final stage, while the 8 best second-place teams will advance to the playoffs.

For the draw, teams were placed into four pots of 10 teams based on their coefficients as of April 18, 2024. Ukraine was placed in Group 1, where they will face Romania, Germany, and Cyprus.

Futsal EURO 2026 Main Round Draw

Group 1: Ukraine, Romania, Germany, Cyprus.

Group 2: Finland, Italy, Belarus, Malta.

Group 3: Poland, Slovakia, Moldova, Turkiye.

Group 4: Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, Norway.

Group 5: Croatia, Azerbaijan, Sweden, Greece.

Group 6: Kazakhstan, Armenia, Denmark, Albania.

Group 7: Portugal, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Andorra.

Group 8: Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, England, Switzerland.

Group 9: Serbia, Czechia, Belgium, Austria.

Group 10: France, Georgia, Kosovo, Bulgaria.

Playoffs (September 15-24, 2025)

The 8 second-place teams will be split into four pairs. After home and away matches, the final four spots in the final stage will be determined.

Final Tournament (January 18 – February 8, 2026, exact dates to be announced)

16 teams will be divided into four groups. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarterfinals.

Futsal EURO 2026 Calendar

Main Round: December 9–18, 2024, January 27 – February 5, 2025, March 3–12, 2025, April 7–16, 2025.

Playoff Draw: May 15, 2025.

Playoffs: September 15–24, 2025.

Final Stage: January 18 – February 8, 2026.

As a reminder, Ukraine’s national futsal team finished 4th at the Futsal EURO 2022 in the Netherlands, and the current champions are Portugal.